Machine for coloring motion-picture films



June Y8 1926. 1,587,745 4 J. T. BARKELEW ET AL MACHINE FOR commu@ MOTION PICTURE FILMS Filed April I8 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l lv y ZM@ June 8 1926.

1,587,745 J. T. BARKELEW ET AL `MACHIM; FOR GOLQRIN'G MOTION Pc'r'un:

FILMS 2 sneeuw-Sheet 2 Filed Abril B 1924 Patented June 8, 1926.

narran srares 1;587345 PATENT orifice.-

JAMES T. BARKELEW, OF NEAR PASADENA, AND WILLIAM L. CONNOR, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNORS 'IO FAMOUS PLAYERS LASKY CORPORATION, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATON 0F NEXV YORK.

MACHINE FOR COLORING MOTION-PICTURE FILMS.

Application nea April s, 1924. senat No. 705,121.

The present invention covers improvements in machines for coloring motion picture films, and is designed for handling such work where coloring matter is applied to a positive or finished film by bringing it into mobile pressurable contact with a. similar film carrying coloring` matter. The manner of preparing the films for this class of work, and particularly the preparation of the color or print plate, is well knownin the art and need not be further enlarged upon in this case. lt is further well known that the coloring matter is applied to the positive or finished film byabsorption from print plate, and that the print plate carries this coloring matter upon certain portions of its `gelatinous surface which correspond to the portions of the views upon the gelatinous snrface of the positive film which it is desired to color. It may be here repeated, however, that irrespective of how carefully both the print plate and Athe positive film have been prepared, and ordinarily they are produced from the same negative, they shrink dierent amounts from being wet in the developing process, and also when being moistened in the transfer` process, so that it is necessary to minutely adjust these films to bring them into perfect registration, and to maintain them in such registration during their continuous mobile contact.

Generally, the present invention includes new and novel means for adjusting the two films separately to bring them to registering dimensions, and to maintain them in such registration during their continuous movable contact; and the outstanding feature is an arrangement whereby the one film is bodily shifted7 relative to the other, to bring them into registration. means for maintaining a .longitudinal ten- .sion upon the films to insure an even and perfect pressurable contact between them. Details of construction and the mode of operation of the machine is given in the following specification; and in the accompanying drawings we have illustrated the preferred specific embodiment.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the machine; l

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken as indicated by the line 3-8 of Fig. 1;

It also includes f Fig. 4 is an end elevation taken as indicated by the line 4-4l of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a transverse vert-ical section taken as indicated by the line 5 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a similar section taken as indicated by the line 6 6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentarydetail Vplan view of a tension roller;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of one of the contact rollers; and

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary detail plan view of one of the contact rollers.

Attention is first directedto Figs. land 2 wherein we have illustrated the general and relative arrangement of the several parts. In these views the numeral 10 designates an elongated rectangular base upon which the parts are supported. Standards 11, 12 and 13 are rigidly supported upon 'the base 10, preferably formed integral therewith; the standards 11 .and 12 being situated adjacent its opposite ends with the standard 13 intermediate these two and preferably situated central thereof. A drum 14 is revolubly mounted upon a stub shaft 15, the latter supported ina suitable bearing 16 upon the upper end of the standard 13. This drum has peripheral teeth for engaging the perforations of the films and is mounted to rotate freely upon the shaft 15. It may be of any suitable size, but ordinarily it will be of lconnoaratively large diameter, to reduce to a minimum the extent to which the films will be bent in passing thereover. Its peripheral teeth are of a width, in the direction of its axis, to closely engage the sides of the film perforations'so as to hold the films, when superposed thereon, in perfect lateral registration, but they will be somewhat shorter than the perforations, in the direction of its circumference, so the films may be rela tively shifted thereon. The purpose of this construction will be more fully hereinafter' explained. Y

The drum 1a is mounted a short distance above the base 10, and a pair of rollers 17,

` which we will hereinafter refer to as pres` sure rollers, are movably mounted upon the standard 1S to pressurably engage its periphery. These rollers are identica-l i and are mounted to engage the periphery of the drum at points spaced substantially equidistant on either side of its vertical center,

it bei-11g understood that the drum, is swear CII ed to rotoli-e infe .plone extending longitudinu'lly'oi" and perpendicular tothe 'onse 10.

'lhese rollers are clearly illustrated-in Fig;

Si They willpreferably he constructed ot i"iulo`l3e'i-'7 orsi'milnr suitable materiel; luwing peripheral groottes 18 to perinit the pus-- of the drum teeth when vthe two are in peripheral Contact'. These rollers lim'einetel bearing` sleeves 19 en deredoosely mounted toV rotate upon shafts il() carried upon Athe free endset. arms y21. The arms. 21 are pivotully mounted uponpins 22,' on the stendufdflllV so as to `have un arc-nete movement. es illustratedhywtheisolid nnddottedlines inr Fig. 1. Stop pins ure lined in` the standard 13 to limitl the movement of the urn'is 2.1. in one direction,while theV engagement the rollers with `the periphery o the drum 1*1-v limit their. movement in the opposite direction. The rollers :are yieldingly heldiniinessurnhleContact with the peripheryvof the-drinn hy ineens of hel-ical springs 24g secured It one end to the arms 21, intermediate their endspend. :it their oppesite ends toV pinsl 25y on-the'standzu'd 13. "lie springs Q4@ are mounted to either' hold theY rollers 17 in peripherul engagement with the druniv or' to' hold the arms 21 against the stop pins 23 when thrown in that direction. rlhis isv to permit the threading. ol`- the til'i'ns onto or their ren'iovnl from the drum. y A Y llilin feed vsproclwts QG` und 2"? liar-ing;- peripheral teeth oren'fzegring the perfora-y tions ot the films. are rigidly mountedfupon shafts 2S eind 2), which,A inturm are revoluhly journuled in suitable eirings 3() upon the upper ends ol!- the standards 11 and 1i. Similar guide sprocltetsill and 82 nre situe'ted immediutely helowi the sproeliets-4 2G und 2T. but spaced sligi'litljgf-` therefrom. These.- nre mounted? to rotate 'treelfv upon slurtts B3 carriedhy' the stende-rds 11? and 12.- lluliberrcontnct rollers Rill :nul simihirtoftlie rollers 17 ure-'mounted tov periph orally engage sprockets 231 A'end- 32. .The :iiructure und operntionv ot these Vpli-rits :ire identical; so butf oneV of them willv lie described; rBhe roller 3st Figi. 9) is mounted to rotate freely upon n' sluilt 36 f'zuried hy one end ot' on airnr The erin il is pivotally n'iounted.- intermedie-te its ends. upon u pin 238 support-'ed hy thestnndard 1l. A contractile helical si 1)ri.ng;89is secured at one. end tofthe'frlee endetdo'f 'the uirmv Ell und et its opposite endto u pi n Ll1', upinrthe 'stond-eed 1l, to yieldinggly hold the roller 34 in peripheral.' contact with the sprocket 81, yet; per-initits separation therctrom to allow for threading the' film there- `oetweon.- Y Y LIt muy be'li'ere noted'v that the sprocket-s and; if? are .providin-.g for; feeding one ot' tl-i-ezlhus thnouglijtlre maehine, while the sprockets 31' mit. $32 'function to 'properly guide the tilin Onto the sprockets 26 and 27, respectively and to hold it in substantiely peripheral enge-gement therewith. Also the Contact rollersl 3ft und' are provided to hold'the lh-n in substantiel peripheral eugegement withfthesprockets Blend. rospectively.

A lihn tension rollerlQ is carried by the stoi'idffirdA 11,.situoted adjacent the sprockets ineens o'i" which a suitable tension muy he exerted upon the :film passing thereover, `tohold it in close peripheral;contact with thedruin 14. The det-nils oif this roll-` er are clearly illustrated in Figs. l :md '7. lt; muy be constructed ot" metalor :rsuitable sott material, such es rubber. undv luis n smoothv peripherul surface lto minimize liability ot its injuring' the gi'elltinous surlzice ot. the. lihn.y t is mounted to rotate freely upon a sliutft l?) carried by the bifurcnted end ot :in nrm stdlgtliis erm being' pi:- otelly i'iiounted' :it its opposite liiii'ucuted 'end upon pin l'extending through u lug L15 upon the standard 11. ein adjusting' screw 47 extends through a. lug` torni-ed or cnfried upon 'the standard 11, and en- Q'es the inn r tace of' the' erm 4de., to udjr tuhly. the roller l2 against the teusiouot the hlm.v Thus, after the film has heen adjusted over. the sprockets 26 und 27, und under the drum 14 it may be brought tothe proper tensionn'ierely hy usine the screw 4:7 to reise vthe roller 112 against it. illhile it. is coutenipletef-i that thelihns will hehroughtfjto proper('registration in thisdevice-hy shift-ingr one relutiveto tlufother.l es willleter appear. in addition vto exertiup; the necessary. longitudinaly tension upon the i is to hold `theintnut duringv Contact., slight. iuncciirucies oi" l-eiistrution muy he cured by the useV ot" the menus just described. il'. carriage, generally designated by the nuinernl 4.9-, is mounted longitudinally slid- :ihle upon the buse Olsee Figx). lt has u lmso 5.0,.with u finished bottomsfnee'which rides upone linishedtop fuceot the hase 10, to provide for. accuracy ot' movement. lt hasn centrallongitudinal slot 5 1 into which u. longitudinal rih 52, vuponv the buse 10: closely liits; und is lieldV securely in plu-ce thereonby menus oi:A plates 53 removably secured to the ril) 52 by ineens of screws 54; lhe'pllu'es being ot' sutiicient length to extend over the-portions-of the hase 50 udjzu centkv the rih The slot 51 is` somewhat longer thanthe rib 52 to permit relative longitudinal n'iorement ofthe bese 50.

The base 50 is longitudinally moved and adjusted by means of on adjustingzsoreu' 55 extending loosely through u` lug 56, upon the hase 10, und' screw-threadedly engaging in im internally screw-threaded borein nlug 57.;4 the latter .heling5 carried' by 'end pretereoly 'fornietlffintegjral vi'ththe hase 50. n Collns ef'ane'eted uptime adjusting Screw Standards 62 and 63 are carried upon opposite ends of the base 50, preferably formed integral therewith, and are substantially in longitudinal alineinent with the standards 11 and 12. Film feed sprockets 64 and 65 are fixed upon shafts 66 and 67, rerolubly journaled in suitable bearings 68 upon the upper ends of standards 62 and 63. These sprockets 64 and 65 are substantially identical with the sprockets 26 and 27, and their function is likewise to feed one of the films through the machinel in peripheral contact with the drum 14. Guide sprockets 69 and 69n and contact rollers 70 and 71 are mounted upon the standards 62 and 63, respectively. 'These are identical in structure and function with the sprockets 31 and 32 and rollers 34 and 35, therefore it is not necessary to explain them further in detail. Similarly a film tension roller 72 is supported upon the standard 62, which is identical in structure and function with the roller 42, so no further explanation will be made of it. 1n fact, except for the rigid mounting` of the standards 11 and 12 upon the base 10, and the mountingA of the standards 62 and 63 upon the movable base 50, all the film handling mechanism carried thereby are substantially identical.

1t may be well to here mention that the sprockets 26 and 27 and the sprockets 64 and 65 are mounted to rotate in the same plane with the idler drum 14, as are also the contact, guide and tension rollers. This is necessary to hold the superposed films, as will be hereinafter explainechin alinement and against relative lateral movement.

The sprockets' 26 and 27 are positively driven, in the directions indicated by the arrows in the several views, by means of a shaft 73-which may be operated by any suitable motive power-through the medium of bevel gears 74 and 75 thereon, meshing' with similar gears 76 and 77 keyed upon their respective shafts 28 and 29. The shaft '73 is revolubly journaled adjacent its ends in bearings 78 upon standards 11 and 12, and intermediate its ends in bearings 79 upon a. standard SO, also fixed on the base 10.

The sprockets 64 and 65 are likewise positively driven, in the direction indicated by the arrows in the several figures, by means of a shaft 81, through the medium of bevel Lgears 82 and S3, keyed thereon, meshing with `gears 84 and 85 keyed upon the respective shafts 66 and 67. The shaft 81 is revolubly journaled adjacent either end in bearings 86 carried upon standards 62 and 63, upon the base 50. The shaft 61 is driven through the medium of a spur gear 88 keyed thereon, meshing with a similar gear 89 keyed upon the shaft 73. To permit longitudinal movement of the carriage 49, during operation of the machine, either one of the gears S8 and 89 is made somewhat longer than is ordinarily the case, and in the present instance l have shown this to be the gear 88.

,o 1S Of sufficient length to permit any longitudinal movement of the carriage necessary to correct inaccuracies of registration between the films. yihis, however, even under most unusual conditions` will ordinarily be very slight;

ln the operation of the machine it is `first to be assumed that a print plate or film has been provided which carries coloring; mattei' upon those portions of its gelatinous surf ce which correspond to similar portions of the views upon the positive or finished film which it is desired to color. As hereinbefore stated, even under the most favorable circumstances it is practically impossible to produce two such films which will register perfectly when brought into facial Contact, without the aid of some means for bringing them into such registration and maintaining them so during,l subset nent superposed movement.

ft is not important in the present iiiiachine which of the films is supported in contact with the periphery of the drum 14 'and which 's the film superposed thereon; however, l will assume that the film, designated by the letter i is the print plate and the im de nated by the letter is the positive or .-.nished 'film it is desired to color. 'lhe film A is first threaded through the machine by bringing it around the sprocket 3l., swinging;` the Contact roller 34 away from peripheral engagement therewith for this purpose, over the feed sprocket 26 and tension roller 42, under the drum 14, over the feed sprocket 27, around the guide sprocket 133 and between it and the contact roller When this is done thc film is properly adjusted so that the teeth of these several sprockets will properly engage its perforations; and it is drawn as taut as practicable under the circumstances. 1f there is a slight looseness or lack of tension in the film after it is thus rove around the several sprockets, proper adjustment may be made with the tension roler 42, by means o-f its adjusting sc si 47, to take up the slack or to exert the desired longitudinal tension. The film li is then similarly rove around the sprocket 66 and between it and the contact roller 70, around over the top of the sprocket 64, under the drum 14, in facial contact with the film it, over the sprocket 65, around the guide sprocket. 69 and between it and its Contact roller71. in bringing the films A and B into the ma hine the;Y are, of course, drawn tact.

from suitable individual'reels I(not shown), and after they leave the machine they are arily wound upon individual reels for drving, as moisture is commonly used in this films A and B upon'the drum', bv adjustnient of .he tension rollers l2 and 72,. the rollers 17 tend to' further perfect this con- Also, as the films A. and B move through the machine in the direction indicated by the arrows in 1f, and as a liNuid is commonly use-d to meisten the sielatinous surface of either one or both before coming` in contact upon thedrum 14, the first roller 17 will serve to squeeze out essivc moisture from bet-Ween the films and to substantially seal them together this seal, however, is not suiiicient to injure their facial surfaces When they are separated upon leaving the drum.

As the Contact between the films upon the drum 14- is over a comparatively small arc of its circumference, the `mechanism will be operated comparatively slow to give sufiicient time for the absorption of the coloring .matter by the film B from the film A. 'liis period of Contact may be regulated by "vinntlie speed of operation of the sevahle parts.

i iter the films have been threaded through the machineas hereinbefore described, it is set in motion and the filiiis continuously fed therethrough through the medium of the shaft T3 driving` sprockets Q6 and. 27 and sprockets 64 and 65 through the several gear trains as liereinbefore described. As the sorockets 26 and 27 and 64 and are all `geared tov operate at the same peripheral speed they will all be of the same circumference and all driven by `gears of a 'one to one ratio, The drinn 14 not being driven, but merely idling upon its sha-ft l5 Will be rotated by its peripheral teeth engaging' in the perforations of the films Av and B as they pass thereover.

in ease the color carrying areas of thel film A do not register with the corresponding portions of the' film B, which it* is clesired to color. the film B may bebodi-ly` longitudinally shifted relative to the-film'A, through the medium of the adjusting screw 55 which -inoves the carriage -50` relative to rassen-45 theiriec'hanism carrying theii'lm A andv also relativeto the' drum 14'. The extent to which the li'm B ivill have to be shifted, to bring,l it into registration with thefilm A, in any case, ivi-ll be very slight and this may be very easilv accomplished Without stopping movemene'of. either of the films A and B through the machine. The carriage may be moved inxeither direction to correct inaccuracies of registration, While the peripheral teeth oftli-e drum will hold the films in lateral. registration.

While We have herein shounand described theV preferred specific embodiment of my invention, ive nevertheless'reserve the right to .maire such chang-es and modifications in structure will come Within vthe scope of the appended claims.

Havingdescribed our inventioinive claim,

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a revoluble drum, means to independently support tivo films in movahl siiperposed. relation on the periphery of said'` drinn, said film holding means being positively driven to effect simultaneous .movement of'said films and arranged to hold the filmsin pressurable Contact on the drum, and means in connection With said film holdino;A means to longitudinally shift one of said films bodily, relative to the other, duringgfniovement, to 'effect their registration.

In. a. machine of the class described, the combination of a revolnble drum, means to independently support tivo films in movable superposed relation on the periphery of said drum7 said iilni holding means beingpositiifely driven to effect simultaneous movement lof Said films and provided with ineans to hold the films in pressurable contact on the drum during continuous movement, means in connection with said film holding means to longitudinally shift one of said films bodily, relative to the other, during movement, andy means to adjustably exert a' longitudinal tension on either of said'iilms, during movement, to effect their registration.

3. In a machine of the class described,

'tliecombination of a revoluble drinn, means to independently support two films in movable superposed relation on the periphery of said drinn, means to hold said films against relative lateral movement on the drinn, said film holding means being positively driven to eiiect simultaneous movement of said films and provided with means to hold the lfilms in pressurable contact on the drum during continuous movement,

n'ie'ans in connection with said film holding means`4 to longitudinally shift one of said films bodily, relative tothe' other, during movement, and means to adjustably enertalongitudinal tension on either of saidgiilnis, during movement, to effec-t their registration.

Ll. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a revoluble drum mounted to rotate freely, means to support two films in movable superposed relation Von the periphery of said drum, the drum having peripheral teeth to engage in the perforations of the films, said teeth being formed to prevent lateral shifting of the films thereon but to permit longitudinal shifting, and means in connection with the film holding means to longitudinally shift one of said films bodily, relative to the other, during their movement, to effect-their registration.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a revoluble drum mounted to rotate freely, means to support two films in movable superposed relation on the periphery of said drum, the drum having peripheral teeth to engage in the perforations of the films, said teeth being formed to engage the film perforations closely in the direction of the axis of the drum, to prevent lateral shifting thereon, but to engage in said perforations loosely, in the direction of the circumference of the drum to permit the films being longitudinally shifted thereon, means in connection with the film holding means to longitudinally shift one of said films bodily, relative to the other, during movement, and means to exert a longitudinal tension on either of said films, during movement, to effect theirv registration.

6. In a machine ofthe class described, the combination of a revoluble drum mounted to rotate freely, means to independently support two films in movable superposed relation on the periphery of said drum, said film holding means being positively .driven to effect simultaneous movement of said films and provided with means to hold the films in pressurable contact on the drum, the drum having peripheral teeth to engage in perforations of the films, said teeth being formed to engage the film perforations closely, in the direction of the axis of the drum, to prevent lat-eral shifting thereon, but to engage in said perforations loosely, in the direction of the circumference of the drum, to permit the lms being longitudinally shifted thereon, means in connection with the film holding means to longitudinally shift one of said films bodily, relative to the other, during movement, and means to adjustably exert a longitudinal tension on either of said films independently, during movement, to eii'ect their registration.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a film supporting member over which two films may be passed in pressurable contact, separate means to support each of two films in superposed relation on said member, lone of said film supporting means being bodily shiftable longitudinally of its film for registering the two films, and means in association with the supporting means for independently and adjustably stretching either film to bring the two films to registering lengths.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a film supporting member over which two films may be passed inA pressurable Contact, separate means to support each of two films in superposed rela tion on said member, means in association with the supporting means for independently and adjustably stretching either film to bring the two films to registering lengths, and means in association with one of-said supporting means for shifting the vfilm carried thereby in a direction longitudinally of the film to place the two films in registering position.

In witness that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto subscribed our names this 21st day of March, 1924.

JAMES T. BARKELEV. WILLIAM L. CONNOR.

Cil 

